Stacking box construction with interlock



Jan. 28, 1969 J. Gom 3,424,334v

STACKING BOX CONSTRUCTION' WITH INTERLOK Filed Oct. 9,-1964 Josep/1 60Hzl N VEN TOR.

Y www www United States Patent O Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Astacking box having a structure enabling interlocking engagement betweenvertically stacked boxes combined with interengaging means on the wallsthereof for engaging similar boxes disposed in side-by-side relationthereby preventing relative vertical movement between adjacent boxes andalso preventing relative translatory movement. Each box is also providedwith a closure lid which does not interfere with the stackinginterlocking connection between stacked boxes. The vertical interlockingengagement includes a depending flexible edge at the bottom of a box foroutward flexing and interlocking engagement with an underlying box. Theinterengaging means on the side walls thereof includes interengagingprojections and recesses for retaining the boxes in predeterminedrelationship to each other when disposed alongside of each other.

The present invention generally relates to a stacking box incorporatingmeans thereon whereby a plurality of similar boxes may be disposed instacked relationship to each other together With means provided thereonfor nterlocking boxes disposed alongside of each other to preventrelative shifting of the boxes in both a horizontal plane and verticalplane. The structure disclosed in the present application representsimprovements in the structure disclosed in copending application Ser.No. 238,892, filed Nov. 20, 1962, yfor Stacking Box Construction, nowPatent No. 3,182,856.

One of the problems facing manufacturers and the like is the packagingof various manufactured articles or the like especially when relativelylarge numbers of boxes or containers are used during shipment, storageor display. Such boxes are usually stacked Within certain limits and itis an object of the present invention to provide a novel stacking boxwhich will interlock With like boxes above and below the same, to eitherside of the same and to either end of the same thereby enabling theboxes to be orientated in such a manner that the interlocked stacks ofthe individual interlocked boxes Will not move relative to each other ineither a vertical plane or in a horizontal plane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stacking boxconstruction in which each box has a removable lid thereon together withmeans Within the box forming locating devices for articles therein.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stacking boxconstruction in which the exterior side walls thereof are orientated ina vertical plane.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a packing boxconstruction in which the side Walls thereof converge upwardly.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide astacking box construction having various modiications which are simplein construction, easy to use, economically feasible, durable and longlasting and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details 0f 3,424,334 Patented Jan.28, 1969 construction and operation as more fully hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, andin which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stack of boxes incorporating thepresent invention therein with a portion of the top of one of the boxesbroken away;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing -along section line 2-2 of FIGURE l illustrating furtherstructural details of the box construction;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE l but illustrating abox construction in which the side Walls thereof converge upwardly;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken substantially upon -aplane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 with adjacent boxesbeing illustrated also in section for illustrating the relationshipthereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental Perspective view of a portion of one of theboxes illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and in particularFIGURES l land 2, the numeral 10 generally designates the stacking boxconstruction illustrated therein. As illustrated in the drawings, aplurality of the stacking boxes 10 are arranged in a stack with thestacks illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 illustrating the mannerin which the side-by-side stacks are interconnected.

Each of the boxes 10 includes a bottom wall 12, a pair of parallelupstanding side walls 14 and 16 and a pair of upstanding end Walls 18and 20. All of the walls are arranged in perpendicular relation to theadjacent Walls and in perpendicular orientation to the bottom 12. Forpurposes of definition, the side walls 14 and 16 are longer than the endwalls 18 and 20 but it is pointed out that the particular shape anddimensional characteristics of the boxes may be varied depending uponthe material or articles placed therein.

The upper surface of the bottom wall 12 is provided with a plurality ofupwardly opening recesses 22 which are in the form of depressions toaccommodate the article or product being shipped therein. The innersurface of the walls are inclined inwardly at vany suitable angle inorder to provide thickness to the walls from the bottom to the top butthe walls or at least the interior surface thereof may be substantiallyvertical as is the external surface. The upper inner edge of each sidewall 14 and 16 and each end wall 18 and 20 is provided with an inclinedinner edge portion 24 to receive a top or closure 26 in the form of aplat-e having a correspondingly beveled or inclined peripheral edge formatching engagement with the inclind edge 24 at the upper edge of thebox. This allows the cover 26 to have the upper surface thereofsubstantially with the upper edge or surface 28 of the peripheral wallof the box as illustrated in FIGURE 2 so that as a plurality of boxesare stacked one on top of another, the surfaces 28 of the walls willengage the bottom surface of the bottom 12 of an overlying box with thestacked boxes also serving to retain the closure 26 in place insofar asthe underlying boxes are concerned.

One end wall such as the end wall 18 of each box is provided with asemicylindrical recess 30 forming a handhold and the other end Wall ofthe container or ybox is provided with a semicylindrical projection 32with the projections and recesses being aligned and interengaged whenboxes are disposed in end-to-end adjacent relation. The recesses andprojections 30 and 32 form a handgrip as well as forming a joiningmechanism for the ends of abutting boxes.

One side wall such as the side Wall 14 of each box is provided with alongitudinally extending semicylindrical recess 34 and the other side-wall such as the side Wall 16 is provided with a semicylindricalprojection 36 which serves as handgrips for the boxes and also serve tointerlock the side walls of adjacent boxes disposed in abuttingside-:by-side relation for retaining the position of such boxes insofaras relative vertical movement is concerned. As will be apparent, thestructure of the `boxes is symmetrical and it is only necessary toorientate the boxes s that alternating recesses and projections areorientated at the ends of the stack of boxes as well as at the sidethereof.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, each side wall 14 and 16 has a downwardlyextending portion or extension 38 terminating in an inturned lip ornipple 40 at the bottom edge thereof. The upper peripheral edge of eachbox includes a recess or cut-away portion 42 having the lower extremitythereof defined by a shoulder 44 which is generally horizontallydisposed for abuttingly engaging the bottom end of the extension 38.Also, slightly above the shoulder 44 corresponding to the distance ofthe projecting lip or nipple 40 above the bottom edge of the extension38 there is provided on the vertical surface of the recess 42 a slot orgroove 46 for receiving the lip or nipple 40 thus locking the boxes instacked position inxthe relationship illustrated in FIGURE 2.

At each corner of the box where the side walls and end walls join, thedepending extension 38 is provided with a cut-out 48 which providesiiexibility for the depending extension 38 to enable expansion thereoffor engagement of and release of the lip 40 from the groove 46. Thecutouts 48 may also be employed as handles if desired and will besubstantially closed when superimposed over the top portion of anunderlying box as illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

The top edge of each end wall is provided with cut-outs or notches 50and the top edge of each side wall is also provided with a pair ofcut-outs or notches 52 and similar notches 54 and 56 are provided in thebottom edges of the walls to provide linger grips to facilitate theexpansion of the downward extension 38 when in superimposed relation.The notches 50 and 52 do not go all of the way through the upper edge ofthe peripheral wall while the notches 54 and 56 extend all of the waythrough the extension 38 for communication with the notches 50 and 52when aligned therewith to enable finger pressure to be exerted outwardlyon the lower end portion of the extension 38 to disengage the lip ornipple 40 from the corresponding groove 46. To facilitate removal andplacement of the closure 26, a notch or hand-hold 58 is provided in oneor more edges thereof to facilitate lifting of the closure panel.

Referring now specifically t0 FIGURES 3-5, the stacking box constructionillustrated therein is designated by reference numeral 60 and includes abottom wall 62 comparable to the bottom wall 12 in FIGURES 1 and 2.Upstanding from the side edges of the bottom wall is a pair of sidewalls 64 and 66. Interconneeting the side walls 64 and `66 is a pair ofend walls 68 and 70. The upper surface of the bottom 62 is provided witha plurality of indentations or recesses 72 for receiving an article orarticles therein in a manner similar to the recesses 22 in the bottomwall 12 in the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The upper edge of the side and end walls is provided with a bevelledinner corner 74 for receiving a closure lid or top 76 that is orientatedflush with the top edge of the walls '78 when in closing position.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 5, the side walls 64 and 66 convergeupwardly slightly and the end walls 68 and 70 also converge upwardlythereby leaving a space between the upper portion of adjacent boxes 60as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Each side Wall 64 and 66 and end walls 68and 70 is provided with a groove 80 of semicylindrical configurationwith the groove 80 extending peripherally of the box 60 at a pointadjacent to but spaced below the top edge 78 of the box. Each side wall64 and 66 is provided with a depending or extending portion 82 which haslongitudinal semicylindrical projections 84 thereon for snapping intothe groove for interlocking the stacked boxes as illustrated in FIGURE4. The end walls 68 and 76 have similar depending lower edges orextensions 86. The extensions 82 and 86 are separated from each other bya cut-out notch 87 at the corner of the box 60 for enabling theextensions 82 and 86 to liex so that the projections or ribs 84 may snapinto the groove 80 of an underlying box.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the lowcrmost box has the side wall 66thereof provided with a centrally located notch or recess 88 thereinwhile the other side wall 64 is provided with a pair of cut-awayportions or notches 90. In stacking the boxes, the boxes are orientatedwith the side wall 66 underlying and overlying the side wall 64 so thatthe lower edge of the side walls will have an alternate central recess18 and the end recesses or notches 90 for reception of an adjacent stackof boxes which will have an opposite arrangement, that is, the lowermostbox will have end notches 90 and a central pro- 'ection at the centerfor interlocking interengagement with the adjacent stack of boxes whichwill prevent relative longitudinal movement between the boxes andrelative vertical movement. The end walls 68 and 70 have an identicalalternate arrangement of a central notch and end notches on theextension 86 for interlocking the ends t0 prevent relatively lateralmovement between the ends of adjacent stacked lboxes as well aspreventing relative vertical movement due to the engagement of the lowerends of the extensions 82 and 86 and the manner in which the notches 88and 90 are arranged to receive the opposite orientation of the notchesand projections on adjacent boxes. This arrangement is illustrated inFIGURE 4 and serves as a means for joining adjacent stacks of boxesorientated alongside of or in end-to-end abutting relation thereto inorder to interlock the stacks to prevent relative longitudinal movementas well as vertical movement or relative lateral movement while at thesame time effectively interlocking the boxes in each stack by the ribso1 projections 84 being received in the grooves 80 and individuallyproviding closure lids for each box. The spacing of the upper portionsof the box structures as illustrated in FIGURE 4 provides forhandgripping of the upper edges of the boxes if necessary and alsoenables air circulation between adjacent boxes which is desirable whenthe boxes are subjected to cool air or the like so that the cool air maycirculate more expeditiously between the boxes. v

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stacking lbox construction comprising a container includingupstanding side Walls and upstanding end walls interconnecting the endsof the side walls, a bottom substantially perpendicular to the side andend walls and interconnecting the same for providing an open topcontainer, each of said walls having means thereon adapted tointerengage with corresponding means on a wall of a box disposed inadjacent horizontal aligned relation thereto, and means at the top andbottom of the box for interconnection with adjacent superimposed boxes,said interengaging means preventing relative vertical movement betweenadjacent horizontally aligned boxes and also preventing relativehorizontal translatory movement 4between such boxes.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said interengaging meanson the walls of the boxes includes a projection on one wall and acorresponding recess on the other for interengagement.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said projection andrecess are substantially semicyclindrical in con-figuration.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said projection is in theform of at least one downwardly and outwardly inclined projection, saidrecess including at least one downwardly and inwardly inclined notch forreceiving the projection on` an adjacent box.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansinterconnecting superimposed boxes includes a peripheral groove adjacentthe 4upper edge of the box, said walls of the box projecting below thebottom and including an inturned projection for interlocking engagementwith the groove of an underlying box, the lower corner portion of eachcontainer disposed below the bottom being cut away to enable outwardflexing of the portion of the walls having the projection thereon forsnapping engagement with the groove.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the top and 'bottom edgeportions of the walls have recesses dened therein for receiving theiingers for facilitating outward flexing of the walls to disenigage theinterconnecting means.

7. A stacking box construction comprising a container including anupstanding peripheral 'wall having a bottom forming a closure within theperipheral wall thereby defining an open top container, said peripheralwall having a peripheral groove in the outer surface thereof adjacentthe top edge, said peripheral Iwall having a depending projectingportion extending below the bottom and being provided with inwardlyextend-ing projecting means at the lower edges thereof for engagement inthe groove, said portion of the peripheral wall depending below thebottom being laterally exible to enable interlocking engagement ofsuperimposed boxes by vertical downward movement of an upper box inrelation to a lower box thereby enabling the interlocking action tooccur as the boxes are being placed vertically in superimposed relation.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein the portion of theperipheral fwall depending below the bottom includes cutout areas inspaced relation to facilitate lateral flexing thereof.

9. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein the peripheral wall ofthe container is provided with circumferentially spaced projections andrecesses for interengagement with similar containers disposed inside-byside relation to prevent vertical and horizontal shifting of suchcontainers in a plane paralleling the lower surface thereof therebystabilizing a plurality of boxes disposed in vertically stacked relationand in stacked side-by-side relation.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said projecting meansand recess means being defined by the portion of the wall dependingbelow the bottom thereby enabling the upper portion of the wall toconverge inwardly while retaining the interengagement betweensideby-side boxes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,028 3/1916 Walwig 220-241,543,800 6/ 1925 Shewry 220-97 1,591,760 7/1926 Haase 220-24 X2,807,387 9/1957 Siciliano 220--41 X 2,860,814 11/1958 Duemler 220-603,049,265 8/ 1962 Van Moss 220-97 3,058,612 10/1962 Nagy 220-603,103,278 9/1963 Kuzma 220--23.6 X

888,611 5/1908 Heinze 220--23.4 X 2,849,151 8/1958 Heil 220--97 GEORGEE. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 220-97, 23.4

